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Abstract:

An app development platform that provides a unique way for anyone,
without any programming skills, to build and deploy apps in 5 easy steps.
Typically the entire end-to-end 5 step process from app conceptualization
to app deployment can be done in 5 days or less. The platform is a
Model-Driven platform that guides anyone with no programming skills
through 5 steps that include 1) define the process; 2) enhance the
screens; 3) build integration logic; 4) publish and manage; and 5)
analyze user behavior.

Claims:

1. A method of automatically generating an app with a app generation
system, the method comprising: defining a business process, wherein
defining a business process includes creating a business process flow
chart of the business process using a drag and drop user interface;
automatically generating an app in response to activating an app
generation software application, wherein no user input beyond the
business process flow chart is required to generate the app; enhancing
the visual aspects of screens of the generated app; building integration
logic using a drag and drop interface; publishing and managing the
generated app; and analyzing user behavior, wherein the generation of the
app includes providing automatic reporting of user behavior in use of the
generated app.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically generating an app
includes automatically generating an app for an operating system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operating system comprises one of a
smartphone operating system or a browser.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the smartphone operating system
comprises any operating system for a smartphone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein enhancing the visual aspects of the
screens includes using a drag and drop interface for dragging and
dropping mobile components into the user interface.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising reviewing app enhancements
in real-time by business users from their devices for real-time feedback
to the app developer.

7. A system for automatically generating an app with a app generation
system, the system comprising: a process modeler module presented on the
electronic display of a user, wherein the process modeler is operable by
a user for defining a business process, wherein defining a business
process includes creating a business process flow chart of the business
process using a drag and drop user interface of the process modeler
module; automatically generating an app in response to activating an app
generation software application by clicking on an a generate button
provided by operation of the system, wherein no user input beyond the
business process flow chart is required to generate the app; an app
designer module presented on the electronic display of a user, wherein
the app designer module provides for enhancing the visual aspects of
screens of the generated app; an integration builder module presented on
the electronic display of a user, wherein the integration builder module
operates for building integration logic using a drag and drop interface;
a platform configurator module, wherein the platform configurator module
is presented on the electronic display of a user, publishing and managing
the generated app; and a management develop interface for analyzing user
behavior, wherein the generation of the app includes providing automatic
reporting of user behavior in use of the generated app.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein automatically generating an app
includes automatically generating an app for all operating systems.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein app designer module operates to enhance
the visual aspects of the screens includes using a drag and drop
interface for dragging and dropping mobile components into the user
interface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising reviewing app enhancements
in real-time by business users from their devices for real-time feedback
to the app developer.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the integration builder module
operates to connect to a cloud backend application an on-premise backend
application, or to no external application depending on the specific
requirements of the app.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the platform configurator module
performs administration tasks comprising user definition and role
assignment, wherein the administration tasks can be leveraged from the
backend identity management servers.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the management development interface
automatically provides all usage statistics to the platform for analyzing
usage and user behavior patterns to update the app with improvements.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to an app development platform and
more particularly to an automated app development platform that provides
a unique way for anyone, without any programming skills, to build and
deploy apps in 5 easy steps.

[0003] 2. State of the Art

[0004] The development of apps for computing devices and particularly
mobile computing devices is becoming more important within businesses.
Businesses seek to develop apps in order to improve productivity by
giving the businesses the ability to simplify the tasks of various
employees of the business by developing an app that help in the
performance of the employees responsibilities. Currently, there is not a
system that allows a user with no programming experience to be able to
develop an app for enterprises, across all mobile OS and browsers,
completely integrated to IT's core business applications.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need in the field of app development for an
improved automated app development platform.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to an app development platform that
provides a unique way for anyone, without any programming skills, to
build ,deploy and manage apps in 5 easy steps.

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention include a method of
automatically generating an app with an app generation system. The method
comprises the steps of defining a business process, wherein designing a
business process includes creating a flow chart of the business process
using a drag and drop user interface; automatically generating an app for
all operating systems in response to activating an app generation
software application, wherein no user input beyond the business process
flow chart is required to generate the app; enhancing the visual aspects
of screens of the generated app; building integration logic using a drag
and drop interface; publishing and managing the generated app; and
analyzing user behavior, wherein the generation of the app includes
providing automatic reporting of user behavior in use of the generated
app.

[0008] Another embodiment includes a system for automatically generating
an app with a app generation system, the system comprising: a process
modeler module presented on the electronic display of a user, wherein the
process modeler is operable by a user for defining a business process,
wherein defining a business process includes creating a business process
flow chart of the business process using a drag and drop user interface
of the process modeler module; automatically generating an app in
response to activating an app generation software application by clicking
on an a generate button provided by operation of the system, wherein no
user input beyond the business process flow chart is required to generate
the app; an app designer module presented on the electronic display of a
user, wherein the app designer module provides for enhancing the visual
aspects of screens of the generated app; an integration builder module
presented on the electronic display of a user, wherein the integration
builder module operates for building integration logic using a drag and
drop interface; a platform configurator module, wherein the platform
configurator module is presented on the electronic display of a user,
publishing and managing the generated app; and a management develop
interface for analyzing user behavior, wherein the generation of the app
includes providing automatic reporting of user behavior in use of the
generated app.

[0009] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present
invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description
of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a view of a process modeler of an app generation system.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a view of an app designer module of an app generation
system.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a view of an integration builder of an app generation
system.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a view of a platform configurator of an app generation
system.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a view of a management development interface of an app
generation system.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of generating an app
automatically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to
an app development platform that provides a unique way for anyone,
without any programming skills, to build and deploy apps in 5 easy steps.
Typically the entire end-to-end 5 step process from app conceptualization
to app deployment can be done in 5 days or less. The platform is a
Model-Driven platform that guides anyone with no programming skills
through a method of automated app generation.

[0018] FIGS. 1-5 depict the various components of the system, and further
provide additional method steps in the description of the modules that
operate during each step of the app generation process 60.

Step 1: Define the Process

[0019] In the system platform, a user may access the Process Modeler
module 10, shown in FIG. 1, and define the business processes 12 for the
app to be created. This can be performed with drag and drop process
components 14. The focus should be on the logical process model, not on
the user interface ("UI") or backend systems and data. The primary step
is to get the processes 12 completely right and it ensures that the app
is designed exactly the way the end-user requires without compromising on
user experience ("UX.") Unlike other app development systems, embodiments
of the system platform allows for a model of a business process 12 be the
foundation for the automated generation of an app.

[0020] A user clicks on a "GENERATE APP" button 16 in the Process Modeler
10 which generates the base app framework for all device operating
systems (i.e. iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows smartphones & tablets)
and the browser. At this point, the system platform has automatically
generated an app with all the logic and navigation flow embedded.
However, the generated app will not have all the desired screen elements
or cosmetic look and feel of the user interface at this step.

Step 2: Enhance the Screens

[0021] The user may then access the App Designer Module 20, as depicted in
FIG. 2, in the system platform and open the app 22 that was generated
from the Process Modeler 10. This app 22 will have various pages, and the
relationship between them, if there is such. In the App Designer Module
20, a user can open each page and drag-and-drop mobile components 24 into
the UI. The mobile components 24 can be from simple elements like
dropdown and text boxes to more advanced elements like charts and
bar-code scanners. Any enhancement needs to be made only once and the
system applies any enhancement made in one operating system app 22 to all
the devices and browsers operating in different operating systems. All
the app enhancements can be reviewed in real-time by business users from
their devices for real-time feedback to the app developer.

Step 3: Build Integration Logic

[0022] For this task, open the Integration Builder, as seen in FIG. 3 in
the system platform and start building the integration logic for the
generated app 22. This may include connecting to a cloud backend
application 32 or an on-premise backend application 34 or to no external
application at all, depending on the specific requirements of the app 22.
This activity includes building the business and integration logic
required by the app 22. All business and integration logic is done via
drag-and-drop components 36 in the Integration Builder Module 30. The app
development process is complete at this step.

Step 4: Publish and Manage

[0023] In this step, publish the app using a Platform Configurator Module
40 of the system platform, as shown in FIG. 4. In this step,
administration tasks such as user definition and role assignment can be
leveraged from the backend identity management servers. This module also
includes testers into the process to test the app before publishing and
rolling it out to production users and managing it.

Step 5: Analyze User Behavior

[0024] Once business users have downloaded and deployed the app, the apps
automatically provides all usage statistics to the platform where the
developer or administrator can analyze usage and user behavior patterns
to update the app with improvements using a Management Development
Interface or App Watch 50 as depicted in FIG. 5.

[0025] The system platform supports the complete app development lifecycle
with this 5 step process. All of the steps of the process are provided by
the use of a software application that provides a user interface for each
step. Based on the information entered by the user at the beginning with
the business process model, the software application automatically
generates an app that performs the functionality to accomplish the
business process. There is no need for a user to code and debug the code
in order to create a working app.

[0026] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to
specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled
in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
by the following claims.